CEO of Boston Consulting Group said to apologize for involvement in Gaza aid mechanism

The CEO of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a US management consulting firm that helped establish the new American- and Israeli-backed aid distribution mechanism in Gaza, apologizes for the company’s involvement in the initiative.

In an email obtained by The Washington Post, Christoph Schweizer says that his company had fired two partners involved in the project and has launched a “formal investigation” to ensure “this does not happen again.”

“I deeply regret that in this situation, we fell short — of our own standards and of the trust that you, our clients and our broader communities place in BCG,” he says. “I am sorry for how deeply disappointing this has been to many BCGers around the world.”

Last week, a BCG consultant said the company, responsible for setting the payment and procurement rates for a network of contractors tasked with constructing four aid distribution centers in southern Gaza, ended its contract with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the body running the mechanism.

BCG said it had offered its services to the humanitarian effort on a pro bono basis and did not receive any compensation for its work. However, another individual familiar with the project disputes this claim, asserting that BCG submitted monthly invoices exceeding $1 million.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu worked for BCG in the United States prior to his political career.

Following a nearly three-month aid blockade on the territory, Israel announced last month the start of the new system, which is meant to keep aid from reaching Hamas members.

But the Israeli-backed efforts to supply aid to the strip continue to be chaotic, with operations beset by deadly incidents.

Additionally, the mechanism has come under harsh condemnation from the United Nations, rights groups and foreign countries who say it does not sufficiently address the humanitarian needs in Gaza.